Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for schizophrenia, an acquired psychiatric disorder to include anxiety and depression, and migraine headaches have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and service.,Service connection has not been established for any of the conditions due to lack of credible historical information.

Service connection for anxiety and depression is denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, plantar fasciitis, and pseudofolliculitis barbae is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, and sleep apnea are denied due to a lack of credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss is remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of July 24, 2013 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities precluding the Veteran from securing and following gainful employment since that date.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Board has found that the appellant does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, including for heart conditions, acquired psychiatric disorders (anxiety and depression), hypertension, cervical spine condition, bilateral shoulder conditions, elbow conditions, wrist conditions, hip conditions, knee conditions, ankle conditions, or foot conditions. The claims are being remanded to obtain appropriate medical examinations and opinions.,The Board has found that the appellant does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, including for heart conditions, acquired psychiatric disorders (anxiety and depression), hypertension, cervical spine condition, bilateral shoulder conditions, elbow conditions, wrist conditions, hip conditions, knee conditions, ankle conditions, or foot conditions. The claims are being remanded to obtain appropriate medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since the appeal period began, but his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia disorder, and major depressive disorder have been evaluated at 30 percent disabling.,The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis with pes planus has been evaluated at 30 percent disabling.

The Board has granted service connection for unspecified depressive disorder, finding it as likely as not incurred in service based on treatment records showing depressive episodes during active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for severance of service connection due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the Veteran's personnel records and service treatment records. The claims will be returned for correction of this error and readjudication.

The Veteran's depression and anxiety are granted as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus. The claim for headaches is remanded due to insufficient examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for the following reasons: obtaining outstanding treatment records, updating VA treatment records, and obtaining medical addendum opinions for migraine headaches and residuals of a right arm mid shaft ulna fracture.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no current evidence of these conditions during or contemporary to the appeal period.

The Veteran's depressive disorder prior to June 2, 2022 did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating than 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied, and the effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits were granted on October 18, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for PTSD and left wrist disability were denied as the earliest date of claim is not earlier than the dates of the respective decisions.,The Veteran filed her initial claims in December 2005 and June 7, 2002 respectively. The April 2019 and March 2017 rating decisions became final due to lack of appeal or new and material evidence within one year.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of outstanding service treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for his service-connected psychiatric disability, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms and overall impairment.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed due to duty-to-assist errors, and the case is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require him to have regular aid and attendance of another person, leading to the grant of special monthly compensation based on this need.